Grim Tales Script

GRIM TALES: FROM DOWN BELOW
Chapter 4 Hiatus Rendition by ChillyMunster

“TIME…it flows in many ways but always in the same direction. The path it takes and the destination it reaches, forever changing due to the free will by those bound in this wake. I, however, am a being unbound…”
In the darkness of a infinite room a being can be seen. A mysterious man clad in purple garb sitting in a brown chair, watching calmly, as chaos unfurls in the vortex before him.
“I am Clockwork. I freely watch all events that occur in time. Be it past, present, or future.”
Within this vortex of chaos, a dark menace can be seen towering over a battered woman who reaches out to her fallen love.
“But some futures need to be stopped. Things created that could end all and offset the natural balance need to have their path diverted…”
The dark menace in the vortex begins to raise his hand, and within the blink of an eye, ends the maidens’ life.
“Or severed completely, it really is a tragedy seeing what people can do to one another.”
The vortex now changes to where the suffering started. The beginning and how it all happened through this boy.
“It is time now young reaper; can you make the right choices and divert your path? Or will I have to come and cut it off completely?”
Back now in the room where the battle was underway, the vile Oogey Boogey pleads for his life to the young reaper, who is still caught in a trance by the darkness now living in him.
“Oh please Mr. Reaper, don’t hurt me! Take these three; they were the ones who brought you here!”
“WHAT!?” Locke said in disbelief, “you were the one who told us to bring him here!”
“NO! NO! NO!” Oogey said in fear.
“You think I care now? That you deserve mercy?” Junior says with menace.
“Y…Yes?”
“You’re all going to pay,” Junior says as he reaches his giant mechanical hand out for the killing blow.
“NO!!”
Unknown to Junior, his actions are all by influence of the darkness inside.
“Yes…let the reaping begin.”
* * *
Meanwhile, far up above the chaotic battle, the Redeemer finally brings Minnie to their destination. A place full of light and clouds, something that Minnie has never experienced living down in a land of darkness and death.
“Welcome my dear, to the gates of heaven,” The Redeemer says with pride, “where beyond, your dreams of paradise can be realized and you can be given anything you desire.”
“Lest these dreams contain beings whom I long for?” Minnie says with questionable hope.
“Correct, but you can always watch over them for it is your love that binds you.”
Even with this knowledge, Minnie still can’t help but feel sadness for leaving her brother. Noticing this, the Redeemer kneels down beside her and tries his best to comfort her.
“There is someone very important I’d like you to meet. She will be the one to help you adjust to your new surroundings. She’s also the only soul who swayed deaths judgment in taking the life of her brothers’ love.”
“What angelic being could posses such an influence to control even death itself?”
Upon uttering her question, the gold gates of heaven parted, allowing a blinding light to shine forward. The light was brilliant and Minnie could barely make out the female form walking toward her through the glare. It wasn’t until this woman expanded her angelic wings that she could see the angel in all her beauty. Long, flowing blonde hair, bright, shiny blue eyes, and wings so vast and glorious that she could have wrapped them around Minnie twice if it was possible.
“Greetings my dear.” The angel said to the visitors.
“Minnie, I’d like you to meet Mistress Deedee.” The Redeemer announced.
‘Deedee?’ Minnie thought to herself, ‘what a peculiar for a being of purity and glory.’
The angel then extended out her hand in a warm greeting and with a kind, heartwarming tone said, “Hello there Minnie, I’ll be the one to show you around.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet thee of angelic light, yet I feel that a blessing as this is far beyond a former demon as I.”
“No need to be so modest. I feel that you’ll grow to be quite comfortable here in heaven.”
With that, Minnie was led by the angel through the gates without even a second thought towards the Redeemer, unknowing that he was quite uneasy about the letting of a demon into his holy realm.

Comic pages:

Page 5: (deleted from previous text)

On page 6 Grim, Mandy, Jack, and Sally come down the chute and order Jr. to stop his rampage.

On 7, Jr. Sees his mother and reverts back to his normal self and runs over to her side, with grim wondering why she gets all the affection.

On 8 we see boogie trying to sneak away with jack capturing him.

On 9, Sally tends to the children while Mandy notices Minnie and Jr's new eye. She remains expressionless but with 1 tiny tear drop.

Page 10, Jr notices the tear and is in shock. Mandy wipes it away and inspects it; with a glare she forms it into a needle.

I haven’t drawn the rest but Mandy then beckons boogie, and fires the needle into boogies brain and he is shocked that he doesn’t seem affected.

"Torture, mutilation...and children. These things are what you like most Oogie? You are sick and twisted and you were supposed to be dead long ago. I won’t grant you that pleasure so easily Oogie, oh no I won’t." Mandy proclaims with her hand pointing at boogie.

"What are you going to do?" boogie says shaking.

"Lets see what nightmares you have inside your head. Let’s see how much YOU enjoy them on yourself. One thousand fold." Mandy says as the panels move into Boogies dark eye.

"Every second that passes, will be an eternity for you!" Mandy yells while boogie is screaming, twisting and contorting on the floor.

The others stare in horror as boogie twists and torques his body. Each insect and snake inside screaming in their own voices at the horrors they must be going through. Out of nowhere says "boy do I love her" gaining a confused look out of the others.

Mandy then spreads her fingers out as Boogies head then splits open. Being pulled out by an unseen force is a green, cockroach like insect, still screaming in agony.

"That thing is what Oogie really is?" asks Jr. Grim and jack nod.

With another gesture of Mandy's hand, Boogies body is impaled to a wall then set aflame.
The green insect now screams with a stronger wail.

"You can still feel that, cant you Boogie? Feeling all their pain, their bodies crushed and burned alive. If it weren’t for the fact you’re an insect, I’d be doing much worse to you."

Off to the side Jr thinks about how horrible his mother could possibly be.

Mandy, clutching Boogie in her left raises her right hand. Her nails then extend to a sharp point, to which she then impales Boogie, and rips out his soul. Mandy then crushes boogies body in front of him.

"How is she doing all that?! Jr. asks.

"She’s yer mother son, and my wife. She has some beneficial powers." grim says with a stern face.

A fissure then opens up in the floor and Mandy dangles boogies soul over it.

"If I ever see you out of hell again, there will be DIRE consequences." Mandy says with a vicious look.

We then see boogie plummeting into the depths where his soul is attacked by hellish birds.

Mandy turns and begins to leave the room, but not before telling everyone she needs to be alone.

Sally is then seen sewing Lock's chest back up with the others looking on with awe.

"That’s going to be a cool scar Lock!" Barrel says.
"shut up you ninny."
"hey aunt sally, would it be possible for you to bring Minnie back if you sewed her body back up?"
"Well, I could put it back together, but the bodies useless without a soul."
"Oh...", 'all she needs is the soul back? Maybe I could get into heaven and get her back...'

Grim and Jack are off to the side looking up to boogies body.

"It seems darling Minnie gave up her power to Jr." says Jack.

"I know, I saw"

"This could result in a very unfavorable out come. The influence of the nerglings inside of Jr seems to already have taken effect."

"I know"

"Minnie could only control them thanks to those runic symbols, but did you see them on Jr's blades? I don’t think they’re being held back anymore."

"Indeed, ill perform the seal later tonight. Who knows what he could become with the nergling entities having access to his unawakened reaper abilities."

"He could end us all..."

"Perhaps, I just hope he can gain control over them."

Grim then notices the severed hand on the floor and picks it up. All he can do is sigh.
Grim then walks over to Jr and presents the Claw to him. Jr. turns away and thinks about the look Minnie gave him before she gave him the eye.

"Son..."

Jr. turns back to see that his hand had returned to normal to which he pops it back on.
'I got to get her back' Jr thinks to himself.

"I forbid it" Grim proclaims.

"What?", 'can dad actually read my thoughts?'

"I saw that look, your planning to go after her, aren’t you?"

"Well, I was the one who caused all this! If she didn’t come and save me, she would still be here! It’s only right that I go! She would do the same for me!"

"You were not the one who caused her demise! It was da likes of Boogie who caused the tragedies of this night!"

"But still...!"

"I know you’re hurting son. We all are." grim turns and looks to the others. "We can’t go up to heaven and take her though. It was her time."

"How was it her time?! I reaped her by accident!"

"The Redeemer came and took her. He knows when people are to perish as well. Before me even. We pretty much get a notice to remove their souls. We don’t really determine their time. We can only prolong it by not doing our job."

"That doesn’t make sense"

"it may have been an accident on your part, but it’s out of our hands now. The best I can do is asking God to let her come and say goodbye. Perhaps I can strike a deal where we can visit after so long. She's in a better place now, son, you have to understand that. Do you?"

With a glare, Jr agrees. Grim stands up and looks off into the distance wondering where Mandy is, but being the Reaper, he knew where to find her.

Over in the graveyard, Mandy is sitting arms crossed up against a tree, thinking about what had happened. Even though she is full of sorrow her face still shows nothing but rage. Hatred for boogie and how he had taken her daughter away from her. How the angels came down taking her to heaven without even giving her the chance to say good bye. How she could have prevented all of this by being a better parent and kept an eye on them.

'How could it come to this...?’

Grim appears beside her and places a hand on her shoulder.

Back at Boogies house, Jack asks Sally to help him with Minnie's remains, leaving Jr to sit with Lock, Shock, and Barrel. Jr stares angrily at them, which makes the others shake with fear.

"I’m sorry with what happened, we didn’t expect things to get so carried away..." Shock tries to explain, but Jr keeps his grim stare.

"Um, we'll just head on back down to town; we'll just stay out of your hair from now on." Lock says as they run away.

Jr's body relaxes as he turns to watch his Aunt and Uncle.

"This isn’t right, she didn’t deserve any of this.", "I don’t care what my father says, and I’m going to save her. I’ll fight my way through the golden gates if I have too!'

Jr slowly creeps away into the night without Jack or Sally noticing.

"I’m going to go see how Jr is doing" says Sally.

"Alright dear"

upon turning back Sally gasps at seeing Jr missing. "Jack!"

We now see Jr running across the fields, not really sure of where he’s going, but anywhere else but town is closer to Minnie’s soul, the next panel shows that Him is watching Jr. through a portal. But not all his body is revealed.

"Oh my, the poor boy misses his sister. He must be in such terrible heartbreak knowing that he reaped her soul. Poor boy." the next panel shows Her looking up with her eyes locked on the screen. "Oh dear daughter of mine, would you be as sweet as to be that boys friend? It looks like he could use one right now. I think you might have to take care of him."

With a smirk, she begins to wisp away in a pink mist.

"Yes, take care of the poor boy. Cause obviously that stupid sack of bugs I brought back couldn’t handle it!" He growls between his clenched teeth. "Well, at least it’s one down, one left to go!" the next panel fades away with Him's maniacal laughter being shown.

We now see Jack and Sally riding as fast as they can to where Grim and Mandy are now sitting.

Jr is now sitting on a rock, catching his breath.

"Sigh, what am I supposed to do? I don’t know how to even get there. How on earth am I supposed to get into heaven?"

"I know" says a quiet voice.

He turns to see a black haired girl with piercing red eyes. She was quite lovely in her own way.

"Um...hi." Jr says awkwardly, the girl turns and smiles at him.
"How would you know how to get to heaven?"

The girl coo's a seducing laugh. "Why, I’m a fallen angel cant you tell?"
Jr blushes as he considers it.

"Well, if you know, could you show me?"

the girl leans in close with those eyes locked on Jr. he turns beat red. As the girl smiles, Jr knows that she will show him the way.
* * *

Jack and Sally finally reach Grim and tell him Jr disappeared. Grim tells Mandy to go with Jack and Sally back to town, while Grim goes after Jr. Grim slashes open a rift and goes through.

Mandy heads back to town and upon arrival makes a phone call.

"Hello, Nergal?"

"Ah, hey Mandy. How goes everything?"

"Its Minnie, she’s gone"

"WHAT?! How?"

"She was slain."

Suddenly tentacles appear out of the phone and go to the floor. Out of the mass appears Nergal in his armor. Ready for battle, for revenge.

"By whom?"

* * *
“Are you sure you want me to show you the way there?” the girl with red eyes said.
“Yes! With all of my being show me the way!” Jr. exclaimed.
“Well, I could fulfill any other desire you wish…” she said with a lustful look in her eye.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, one example could be power…”
“Power?”
“Yes...You are the son of darkness and death, are you not? But you lack any skill or ability to tap into the power within you.  I could help with that. I could bring forth all your power and make you a cold and ruthless ruler, one whose powers could surpass both your father and mothers.”
Upon saying this she formed an image out of some mist she conjured.  The image depicted Jr., clad in black twisted armor with a long flowing black cloak draped around his shoulders and masking his face. Only a green toothy grin and green piercing eyes could be seen in the darkness of his hood. Held in his right hand was a scythe that put his fathers to shame, and from his back came multiple tentacles. They were bladed, toothy, and looked hungry for their next reaping.
“Wow, that’s what you think I could be? No wonder you’re a fallen angel. But I’m entitled to the throne anyway. I don’t need to take it by force…”
“But don’t you want respect? To have all the other demons fear even your name?”
“Well, yea, I want respect but…”
“Or… is what you longed for more from… up above?”
Once she finished her sentence, a whirl of red smoke encircled Jr. When he waved it away, he was startled by what he saw.
Pink. He was pink! His hands had become flesh and blood.  The shock became even more intense when Jr. felt a jump in his chest from this sight. He moved his hand to the pain and found that he could no longer reach inside himself. He had become whole. With his hand on his chest he felt something new, something that was only familiar from his sisters all too common hugs. A heart beat.
“I’m…’alive’?” Jr. thought to himself as he groped around his body. Ears, a full head of hair, a nose, lips, and a new eye, everything was there.
“How…how did you do that?” Jr. said with amazement in his voice.
“I thought you’d like it” the girl said. “Would you like to stay that way?”
“I just want my sister’s soul back. Please, if you can do this you must be an angel, so show me the way.” Jr. said with a bit more desperation in his voice.
“Hmph…” the girl pouted, “well if you want to get there so badly, you should really open your eyes more.”
The girl stepped aside and behind her was a sign pointing upward a path of pink spikes and rocks. Upon this sign read “This Way to Heaven”. With glee, Jr. began to climb the mound with the girl only watching her with her big red eyes. Jr then paused and looked back.
“You know, I could really use some help. Would you…um… would you like to come with me?”
The girl just stared at him and smiled, “I will. Who knows, you might be climbing a cliff somewhere and I want to be there for you.” Jr. smiled back not knowing what she really meant by the comment.
“What is your name by the way?”
“Oh, my name? It’s…um…Rosemary.”
“Ha, so your kid will be Rosemary’s Baby? I get it. What an old movie.”
“Right…”
As Rosemary outstretched her had to grab hold of Jr., she seemed to pause.
“What’s wrong Rosemary?”
No reply. She stood there, smiling, not breathing and not moving at all.
“Helloooooooooooo, anybody in there?” Jr. said with a confused look on his face as he tapped on her head.
Jr. then looked around, nothing was moving. It was if time had just stopped.
“HELLO THERE PRINCE OF DARKNESS.” A loud booming voice proclaimed as it faded in and out.
“Who’s there?” Jr. said frantically with an angry look on his face.
All of a sudden Jr, felt a hand on his shoulder. He leaped away and turned around to see a looming figure in purple garb. His face shrouded by his hood.
“GREETINGS BOY, I AM THE KEEPER OF TIME. I WATCH ALL EVENTS UNFOLD BEFORE ME. I AM CLOCKWORK AND YOU YOUNG PRINCE OF DARKNESS; I HAVE SEEN A VERY DARK FUTURE FOR YOU.”
* * *
Meanwhile up in heaven, Minnie and Deedee look off into the distance from a marble balcony.
“So what do you think Minnie?”
“Heaven is that of perfection. It is everything my mind conceived and more… but my heart still longs for my family down in the underworld.”
“Well, we do get to watch over them whenever we feel like it. We watched your mom take out that jerk Oogie. That was…pretty…brutal… but cool!”
“Yes, viewing my mother’s wrath as she avenged me was a spectacle, but I long to see her one last time.”
The mood was clearly distraught, so to lighten the mood, Deedee leapt off the balcony.
“DEEDEE!!!” Minnie said in shock. To her surprise, Deedee floated up to the balcony.
“What? You forgot we could fly?”
“YES!” Minnie said with angry relief.
“Well let me teach you how to fly. I hope it will help you relax a bit.”
“Oh my dear, I have sailed the currents of the wind before. When I was alive my demon wings carried me across the plains of the underworld,” Minnie said as she stepped up to the ledge.
Her wings flapped out and filled with air. Soon Minnie and Deedee were doing aerial tricks about each other as they expressed their joys in flight. Down on the ground however the Redeemer watched with concern. He soon retreated back to a sanctum to pray about the events unfolding down below.
“Lord, I wish not to question your divine plan for I am your instrument, but I can’t help but feel concern for what is about to unfold down in the underworld. I understand your moving him to a path where love and compassion rules his judgment. I understand your training him to build courage and strength. What concerns me though is what we should do if he falls away for he is walking close to the edge. Please Lord, enlighten me and take this concern away.”
The Redeemer knelt there, waiting for an answer. Just as he was about to stand and leave figuring the Lords plans were to him alone, a light enveloped him as he was flooded with knowledge.
“I see. Thank you Lord for answering my prayer.” The Redeemer said as the light faded. He then proceeded to the balcony to watch the two angels, these beacons of light in the darkness, fly and dance their troubles away.
* * *
“I can’t believe it.”
“She is lost Nergal. I have already avenged her; you do not need to be here any longer.”
“But… I…”
“She was created out of my WILL Nergal; I let you know she was gone for I figured you should.”
“How can you say that?! She was still OUR DAUGHTER! As cold as you are, I know you loved her! I can see and feel the hurt inside you. Don’t you try and hide it from me.”
“Don’t you speak to your queen like that General.”
With that, Nergal tamed his anger and calmed down. His body slowly relaxed into a slump.
“Do we even know how he returned to life?”
“There was one thing. When I was scouring his mind for his worst nightmares, I came across part of a memory that I believe explains his resurrection.”
“How? HOW?”
“It was… HIM…”
A heavy feeling just fills the room upon the utterance of the name.
“Why would that demon do this?”
“It was because Grim and I had children. Grim told me that when he ascended to the throne HE was jealous and believed he deserved it for he was the ruler of his own domain and was pure evil.”
“Someone more evil than you? I guess you love too much.” Nergal said with a smirk.
With a glare Mandy continued her story.
“In my vision HE resurrected Oogie to use his hatred towards Jack and Grim. That way he could be pulling the strings without suspicion.  I can only assume that by killing our children, Grims’ lineage will end and he can take over the underworld without opposition. “
With a stern face, Nergal stomped toward the door.
“If he’s after the throne, I shall defend the family I serve. But let me tell you this, I won’t let any bit of him remain to stand trial for what he has done.”
“If you don’t finish him, Grim and I will. Be sure to come back. I hate to lose valuable assets to my army.”
With that Nergal smirked and left to challenge the flamboyant demon.
* * *
Jr. stood there staring at the ominous figure until he finally could push the fear of him aside and talk once more.
“What do you mean I have a dark future?”
“EVENTS ARE BEGINNING TO UNFOLD YOUNG ONE. EVENTS THAT COULD SHIFT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THIS WORLD, AND YOU MY BOY, PLAY A KEY ROLE IN IT.”
“Like how? What are you asking of me?”
“I CAME TO TRAIN YOU, FOR YOU ARE NO WHERE NEAR POWERFULL ENOUGH TO STOP THESE EVENTS AS YOU ARE NOW.”
“I don’t need any…”
“DON’T LIE AND MAKE EXCUSES TO ME BOY. I HAVE SEEN ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND WILL DO.”
“Oh? Um…everything…eh?...really?”
“…YES…REALLY…”
“Hey, those magazines are not mine! They’re my…uh…my friends!”
“…”
“Heh heh heh, awwwwwoooh,” Jr. uttered into a slump.
“AS I WAS SAYING, I AM STEPING OUT OF TURN AND AIDING YOU IN THIS EVENT, FOR I SHOULD NORMALLY SIT BACK AND WATCH THINGS PLAY OUT AS THEY COME.  BUT I SHALL ONLY HELP YOU GAIN A NEW LEVEL IN YOUR ABILITIES OF CONTROL. IT IS UP TO YOU IN HOW TO USE THEM.”
“Well, why are you helping me though?”
“THE EVENTS THAT COME WILL NOT ONLY AFFECT THIS REALM, BUT ALL REALMS. THIS IS WHY I HELP YOU NOW TO SAVE ALL OTHER BEINGS AND ENTITIES IN EXISTANCE.”
“Wow. What event is coming that could do this?”
“A BEING, A ENTITY SO POWERFULL AND EVIL IS ABOUT TO COME FORTH AND RAGE WAR AGAINST THIS REALM AND CLAIM A TITLE HE HAS WAITED FOR OH SO LONG. I AM HOPING BY TRAINING YOU, I CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE TO COME.”
“I don’t think we have that kind of time!”
“I UNDERSTAND THAT, WHICH IS WHY YOU MUST COME WITH ME AND TRAVEL TO MY REALM WHERE YOU CAN TRAIN TO THE ABILITY REQUIRED TO FACE THIS FUTURE. WHEN ALL IS DONE, I WILL WARP YOU BACK TO THIS POINT TO FACE THIS NEXUS IN TIME.”
“But what about Minnie? This girl was about to help me save her.”
Clockwork looks over to the frozen girl and glares, knowing the truth behind her controlling tongue. All the futures he has seen of her are dark and twisted, but perhaps… perhaps he could change the future for her too. As slim as it was, there was always that one timeline that existed with her being different to her character. Maybe he could wind that path in and the future for this boy could be all the better.
“IF YOU WISH, YOU MAY BRING HER WITH AS A COMPANION TO COMMUNE AND TRAIN WITH. AFTER ALL, SHE IS A FALLEN ANGEL AND SHE SHOULD HAVE SOME THINGS TO TEACH YOU.”
“Really?”
“THEN WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE SHE WILL BE THERE TO HELP YOU RETRIEVE YOUR SISTERS LOST SOUL.”
“Alright then, I will come with you.”
Clockwork then tapped his staff and the frozen girl began to move again, and couldn’t help but be a little surprised that the boy could teleport.
“Hey, listen, there’s a change of plans. Now, I want you to trust me in this but we have to go with this guy for a while. He has some really important stuff for you and I to do first before we go and get my sister.”
The girl looked over to see who it was Jr. was talking about. No one noticed due to her expressionless face but she was boiling with anger. She recognized this figure, this creature named Clockwork. He always meddles in things even though he isn’t supposed to. If he was here, then things were going to become much more difficult for her mission to exterminate the boy. The thing that bothered her most was that if she let him go alone, who knows what could be done to him. He could be made more powerful than her and then she could never accomplish her goal. There is only one choice she can make to ensure her prize is dealt with.
“I trust you, Jr. I will go with you and you might need me if this guy pulls a fast one on you.”
With a laugh the two walked over to Clockwork and watched as he opened a portal.
“PROCEED ON IN CHILDREN.”
Junior and Rose looked at the portal and then to each other.
“You first Jr.”
“No no no, ladies first Rose,” Jr said with a smile.
As she walked in, Jr. took one last look up the path he was about to follow. He then sighed for now Minnie will have to wait just that much longer for him to save her, and as he put one foot through the portal, he heard a familiar voice yelling out in a Jamaican accent.
“JUNIOR! WAIT! WHERE ARE YOU GOIN’ BOY?!”
Junior looked back and saw his father gliding towards him faster than hes ever seen. But he can’t let him get involved in this. This is about him, this is his mission, and this is a future he must save on his own.
“I’m sorry dad.” Junior then stepped backwards and into the portal with Clockwork right behind.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Grim yelled as the portal closed in front of him.
“CLOCKWORK!!! GIVE ME BACK MY BOY!! I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE UP TO BUT WHEN I GET A HOLD OF YOU I’LL MAKE SURE DAT D’ERE WON’T BE ENOUGH OF YOU TO STAY BANISHED YOU FOOKING GHOST!”
Grim stammered and raged around until he vented out. He just couldn’t believe that now hes lost both of his kids this day. What’s worse is how will Mandy react? With that thought in mind, he raced back home to tell her what has happened.
Descriptor from a PN I sent to Bob-Dude:

Ok, well heres how it pans out without all my dialog since I haven’t finished putting it on paper. Junior and Her are pretty much out for a long period of time by clockworks dimension's standards. the reason why I had all that happen was to explain why Bleed included him at the end of ch.3 and also to explain why Junior looks so different in the first 4 pages compared to the rest of the comic (his outfit is gray instead of blue and his hair is longer instead of just a tuff.) Nergal goes to His lair and challenges him. Him being an all powerful being really is just toying with him, but also explains that he has no quarrel with Nergal, but extinguishing another powerful demon line is always a good thing. Nergal whips out the soul edge and they go at it. After a bit Nergal starts using more of his nergalian powers to start beating up Him. But, then Him laughs a bit and uses powers to overwhelm Nergal and disarm him. Then there’s a whole bit where he is fascinated that the nergalian line can be passed on through the offering of the user’s eye and so He proceeds to rip out Nergals eyes and absorb the right eye into his chest. He is angry to find that the powers don’t work and starts smacking around the blinded Nergal since he is laughing at Him for his stupidity. "The powers will only transfer if I die demon, and without Grim or his son here to reap me, you’ll never have them! HAHAHAHA!" with that He starts smacking the blind laughing nergal around in a rage. Then he looks over to Nergals soul edge. "This sword steals souls doesn’t it? Well, if your soul doesn’t exist in your body, then your powers will have to transfer to the owner of this eye. Won’t they?" Nergal then has a dire look on his face and says "My line now runs through one stronger than yours. Even if you do this, there is no way you will win." "My good sir, I already killed your daughter. If ol Grims boy is as strong as you say...eh, I think I’ll take my chances with him. Goodbye General." then with that He impales Nergal with the sword and absorbs his soul. The powers then transfer to Him and he can’t help but feel impressed that the nergalian line was so strong. It even decided to modify his body design to its darker liking. But, since He has a stronger will he converts back to his flamboyant self quickly. He then looks into the orb (nice idea) to search for junior and his daughter and was a bit surprised to find them not in the realm, but didn’t care much of it. He then proceeds up top to fight Grim and Mandy. They are surprised to see Nergal lost and He then reveals to them that he stole his powers by changing form with nergals eye being in the center of his chest. Mandy then summons her fire army dudes (there’s a drawing of them in bleeds gallery) and Grim stands by watching her send her army in. Him then dispatches them in a brutal fashion. In the mean time, Junior has been training with Clockwork and Her and after seeing junior trying so hard and fighting with love in his heart, her begins to change by the influence (she can’t kill him with clockwork being there, and that whole montage is narrated by the raven guy.) Junior and Her then come back to their realm older (well, enough for juniors outfit and hair to change) and head off to stop the event that’s going down. Him in the time that it takes Junior to arrive, has been fighting with Mandy and Grim, using his teleportation technique to great success (think nightcrawler in X-Men 2). Junior and Her arrive in time to stop Him from killing Mandy (i.e. my first page) Junior and him begin to duke it out with Junior getting the crap kicked out of him. Junior wonders why Her isn’t doing much of anything and Him starts laughing and shows junior her true form. Junior is shocked and a lil heart broken. He orders Her to attack Junior and begins to use the teleport technique to push him around, but since she has feelings for Junior she goes easy on him. Him notices that She isn’t putting her all into it and bashes her away. He proceeds forward and kicks Junior up to chest height and punches him square in the chest, sending Junior flying into a stone wall. Just a millisecond after Junior hit, He was there to grab junior and smack his head into the rock again. “I AM evil boy. I do sense that you are stronger but it makes no difference. I have changed too since I sent my daughter to assassinate you. I have to say I’m rather disappointed in her and how she failed the mission so completely.  But oh well, might as well do things yourself right?”
He then tosses junior into the air only a few feet behind him so he can give junior another kick into the ground.
“As I was saying, I changed in how I am now a member of your Nergal family. Can you guess whose eye this is in my chest?”
Junior looks in horror at this realization. His uncle he grew so angry at is now gone, slain by this foul beast.
“Now my boy,” He says as the nergalian tentacles come out to help form his right hand into a cannon of some mutilated form, “face the strength of your heritage that you could never fathom of wielding.”
With that a blast of immense power erupted toward Junior. All he could do was sit there, frozen in fear as his end approached, and him failing everyone he held dear.
But suddenly, he felt a tackle. It was Her! She had pushed Junior out of the way! He was amazed then horrified as he saw a whole side of Her abdomen sizzle and break away.
“Rose!” Junior cried, “why?! Why did you do that for me?”
“I don’t know. I just… had to” she said with that lustful smile of hers. But Junior couldn’t help but see it all happening again. It wasn’t Rose lying in his arms, it was Minnie. It’s happening all over again.
“Damn it. That daughter of mine has become quite troublesome. What’s wrong lad? You seem kinda out of it over there.” Him proclaimed.
‘Why? Why does this have to happen to me?! Everything I care for gets taken away from me.’ Junior thought to himself.
“I’m sorry I lied to you Junior. Please forgive this demon filled with countless sins.”
“Don’t apologize, please.”
“I should have told you, I just didn’t know how you were going to feel. I was… afraid, because I’ve… fallen… for… you….”
And with that a tingle coursed through Juniors hand. It was happening again. A reaping.
“NO! STOP! I want to save her!”
* * *
“It seems that things aren’t going well down below for your family, Minnie.” Deedee said.
The two angels are now in the guardian room, watching as the events down below unfold. As concerned as Deedee is for what is happening, it does not compare to the anxiety Minnie is feeling.
“The sight of my families’ plight is so heavy on my heart, Deedee. I know not what to do! Please, my angel, is there anything we can do?”
All Deedee could do is shrug, leaving the concerned Minnie in anguish and tears.
“There is one thing we can do.”
The girls turn to the doorway to see the Redeemer holding a strange glowing orb in his hand. In Minnie’s joy she couldn’t help but leap into him with a hug.
“What is this guardian?” Minnie asked.
“This my dear, is something that will let you down to the surface for a short period of time. Allowing you to perform a miracle in guardian angel sense as well.” The Redeemer answered.
“The time is short, we must make haste!”
“Indeed my dear, I shall escort you to the portal room.”
“Goodbye Minnie and good luck!” Yells Deedee as the two left the room, “until we meet again…”
* * *
Junior wasn’t able to see Roses soul as it left her body, he couldn’t even say goodbye. The fact he couldn’t see her soul… does that mean she’s gone forever? Thinking these thoughts, juniors need for justice began to rise.
“I swear demon, I shall slay you!!!”
Him just raises an eyebrow and gives a deep evil chuckle.
“Oh, I’m sure. You got me shaking in my boots!”
Him then lunged towards Junior only to be blinded by a bright white light.
“What the f…?”
Junior saw that He had stopped but couldn’t figure out why. He then felt a warm hand on his right shoulder and another coming around his chest. He looked over and there was Minnie, smiling her perfect smile. Junior was overjoyed to see her there by his side. Then, another set of hands wrapped around his left side. He turned to see Rose, smiling that lustful smile. Junior was so overjoyed to see these two he almost cried.
“Greetings my brother, I ran into your love on the way to your side. Use our wings brother, and let them make you soar and have fill you with strength.”
Junior looked up and saw his sisters bright white wings, and Rose’s black ones. He couldn’t help but give Rose a puzzled look about it.
“I’m a fallen angel remember? I’m just a lil too naughty to get white wings.” She said with a giggle.
Junior smiled back as they began to rise into the air, he then felt a rush of warmth throughout his body like he never felt before.
‘We feel… unusual master. There’s a glow in our darkness, and it wants us to…change for you. It’s a gift, a combination of…what we all are. We think you might like this master. Let us change you for this moment.’ The nerglings said inside.
‘Yes, show me what this is.’ Junior replied.
Junior then could feel his nergalian clothes change and harden. It was a suit of armor. The right side being white and gold, the left black and red, and the lower torso to his feet dark blue and green. Their souls became his armor, and Junior knew he would win.
“What the hell is this?!” Him demanded.
“SILENCE,” Junior proclaimed, “prepare yourself great demon of darkness,” junior outstretched his hands to energy that was amassing before him. He then tightened his grip around it and it changed to a solid object. A scythe, one of immense possibilities.  “FOR IT IS TIME!” Junior yelled and the wings that carried him plummeted him toward his opponent.
“How?” Him could not help but ask, but through the blinding light he saw a familiar silhouette. It was Her! ‘How can this be?’ he thought as he looked over to Her body. ‘Damn, looks like I shoulda figured emotions would get the best of her. But no matter what happens, I still have the upper hand.’
After that thought He started laughing as Junior came toward him.
“BRING IT ON BRAT!”
He then brought forth the Soul Edge and swung at Junior, only to have it deflected by the scythe. The two leaped back and engaged in fierce combat, with Him using the nergalian tentacles and abilities, forming blades and little menacing creatures. Yet every time one of those creatures came forward, Junior reached out his angelic arm and with a blinding light incinerated them. Junior was the Holy Angel of Death; underlings could never stand up to his holy light that was emanating from his body.
“Hmph, you stupid child! Even if that light kills those things it won’t harm me! I’m a unholy being! I am a fallen angel! Now taste my DARKNESS!!!” the enraged Him exclaimed as his arm exploded into what looked like a laser cannon. What looked like red electricity was skipping to and fro across the surface of that arm until a beam of black blasted out which could only be seen by the red aura it produced as it pierced the underworlds sky.
Thanks to the training and the experience from the nerglings within him, Junior was not afraid of this imminent doom. In fact, he was excited. His adrenaline, pumping faster than ever before, made him brave and confident that he could pull this maneuver off. His hands flowed in a motion with the scythe, making it spin and whir around his body, and Junior began walking towards the blast, rotating and twisting his body to increase the momentum in his scythe.
“1…” Junior planted his feet into his final stance.
“2…” The blade coming about as his body rotates, with the beam just a few feet away.
“3!!!” The blade connects! The beam deflecting of his scythe from the force produced by Juniors movements, leaving the beam to sail the rest of the way skyward.
‘WOW!!! It worked! I can’t believe I just did that!’ Junior thought to himself.
“RAAAAAAGH!!! YOU LITTLE…!!” Him yelled as he leapt toward Junior since he was still standing amazed at himself.
Catching Junior off guard, He swung the soul edge forward only knocking Junior away thanks to how well the armor protected him. As Junior was recovering from the blow, Him raised his left hand which raised spikes from the ground. Everywhere the ground was exploding towards Junior. His wings then opened up and pulled him high into the sky where the spikes couldn’t reach. With a smirk, Him teleported to just above Junior and did a downward slash with the soul edge. Luckily, Junior was able to block the blade, but it had still knocked him off balance, causing him to plummet back down towards the mound of spikes. Junior quickly rotated his body, just missing one that would have meant his doom, leaving him to tumble down the side of the spike spire with Him now waiting down at the bottom.
“This isn’t fun anymore. I got to finish this now” Junior said as he planted his feet and launched himself away from the spire and floating on his wings.
“NOW YOU SHALL DIE DEMON!” Junior said as he plummeted again towards Him.
“Again with this move? Ha ha! I’ll slice you in half!” He said as he brought the soul edge to a ready position.
‘I got to time this perfectly now.’ Junior said with his scythe brought back to a ready position as he fell towards Him.
As soon as junior approached His striking area, He began to swing the soul edge around. However, this time instead of deflecting the soul edge, Junior ducked, allowing the blade to graze the top of his hair. Junior locked eyes with the now completely open Him, His eyes wide open in a sudden fear.
“Go back to HELL!!!” Junior yelled and cut down the demon with a upward slash of his scythe.
The demon, now cut in half down the middle, collapses to the ground. Everyone who was in the area had their mouths agape to the sight they just be held. Mandy and Grim couldn’t help but be amazed as well, for they never expected to see 4 angelic wings on their boy.
“He got dat from my side of de family.” Grim announced with Mandy kneeling beside, rolling her eyes.
Junior was perplexed again for He did not have a soul either. Only a vapor was emanating from the wound.
As Junior relaxed, Minnie and Rose released their grip and Junior instantly reverted back to normal, yet the scythe remained. It felt to him that it held all the energy that was inside him all along. This was his reaping blade, one that even surpasses his father. The little group turned to one another and had hugs go all around, but unknowing to them, that dark vapor that was emanating from His body was entering his fallen daughters.
“So what is going to happen to you two now?” Junior asked, “How did you even get here?”
“The guardian that severed your hand from a previous time granted my wish to be by your side.”
“Well I’m not letting you two go. You’re staying here with me.”
Just as Rose was about to chime in a sudden gust arose pulling only on Rose.
“Wha…?!” They all said with shock as Rose’s soul shot straight back to her body.
“JUNIOR!”
“ROSE!”
All they could do was yell as she merged back with her corpse.
“What the heck just happened?” junior yelled.
“HAHAHAHAHA! You thought you could defeat me that easily brat?”
“YOU!”
“Why do you think I had a child if im an eternal being? She is my vessel! If my physical manifestation was ever defeated id pass on to another branch! Which is this thing you see here! HAHAHAHA!”
Just then it seemed Him/Her had a major migraine, he/she was clutching her head and yelling till finally…
“GET OUT OF MY BODY DAD!!”
“SHUT UP YOU INSECT! KNOW YOUR PLACE! YOU ARE MY TOOL!!!  THIS IS MINE NOW!”
“NO!! JUNIOR GET AWAY!”
“NO! COME HERE BOY! COME GIVE ME A KISS!”
Junior couldn’t help but stare in shock. Him then lunged at Junior only to fall over because of Her resistance.
“YOU STUPID… GAH, I’LL BE BACK FOR YOU BOY! MARK MY WORDS!”
Him then created portal and leaped on through but not without Her being able to look back and yell out juniors name.
“Wow, dat was messed up.” Grim said as he and Mandy walked over to Junior.
“What should we do now dad?”
“We fix t’ings. Put every tin back to da way tings were.”
“INDEED” boomed Clockworks voice as he and Redeemer appeared through a portal.
“What the? You two were together on this the whole time.”
“YES”
“Sorry lad, but we foresaw this event coming and only you had the potential in stopping this.” The Redeemer answered.
“Ouch, dat hurts. You two coulda let the parents in on this little charade right? We could have handled it by ourselves.”
“No, you couldn’t. We let him arrive late to the scene just in case you did take care of things, but you didn’t, just as we foresaw.”
With that, both Mandy and Grim couldn’t help but feel a lil bit of shame in how they almost died and lost everything.
“THE REASON WHY ONLY JUNIOR COULD BEAT HIM WAS BECAUSE HE CONTAINED BOTH THE NERGAILIAN AND REAPER ABILITIES. WITH HIM FIGHTING FOR THE LOVE OF HIS SISTER AND ‘ROSE’ HE WAS SURE TO WIN.”
“Ok ok ok. Well, its all said and done now. I tink we should revive Nergal, don’t you Mandy?” Grim said with a little detest in his voice.
“Yes! We got to!” Junior piped in.
“Very well.” Grim then walked over to the Soul Edge where he was able to sense Nergals soul. With a quick swipe of his scythe the blade split open and inside was a vortex of souls. Grim then reached out and plucked a glowing light and then restored the blade. Grim then stamped the base of the scythe into the ground far enough for it to stand on its own. He brought his hand with Nergals soul close to the blade and held it there. Soon, the ground parted and up arose Nergals body from the soil. It was nothing but a empty shell till grim released the light and it entered Nergals body.
“Agh… wow, that was one heck of a trip.”
“I bet it was Nergal.” Grim said as he walked over to His body. Placing his hand over the corpse he was able to draw forth Nergals eye which he then handed off to the blinded hero. Once the eye was in his powers were restored thanks to the fact His body no longer contained the host soul.
“Thank you my king.”
“Right.” Grim said with a scowl.
“Great,” Junior said, “now we can give Minnie her body back and everything will be back to normal!”
The group then stood in silence, not really knowing what to say.
“What?”
“Junior, she can’t be brought back to what she once was.” Redeemer said.
“Why?!” Junior said with anger.
“BECAUSE HER DEATH WAS NEEDED TO GIVE YOU YOUR NERGALIAN POWERS. THE ONLY WAY SHE CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TO HER ORIGINAL SELF WOULD BE TO DESTROY YOU, AND WE CAN’T HAVE THAT.”
“That’s… just…” Junior couldn’t even finish his sentence as he sat down in depression. Minnie then walked over to comfort him but never said a word.
“I’M SORRY JUNIOR. GRIM, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN BUT I MUST TAKE MY LEAVE.”
“Sure ting, but next time, tell me yur plans when things are big like dis.”
“SURE THING.” With that, Clockwork left. Grim then knelt down to Junior and Minnie and placed his hands on their heads.
“I’m proud of you two ya know?” Grim said as he glanced back and forth between them and the Redeemer. “Mandy, Nergal and I will be back at Jack and Sally’s. I expect you to be the reaper you are son and say goodbye properly. Goodbye Minnie.”
With that Grim stood back up and returned to Mandy and Nergal as they walked back to town, with Mandy and Nergal looking back at Minnie every few feet.
“Looks like it’s a sweet farewell yet again my brother.”
“I cant except that, with all that has happened… I deserve you back.”
“…”
“Redeemer, I’ll do anything. Just let our family be whole again.”
The Redeemer just stood there, looking down at the two.
“Her body was destroyed Junior. She has nothing to return to.”
With that Junior looked down in shame.
“But… maybe if you drew some inspiration from your aunt… I just hope your good with a needle.”
Junior immediately looked up at the Redeemer and smiled as large as he could.
* * *
The Next Day:
“Alright son, what is this surprise you have for us?” Grim asked with Nergal and Mandy by his side.
“Nothing really dad, but I think you might all like it. And if you don’t, I just hope you can forgive me.”
Junior then went out into the hallway of the house for a moment then came back with what looked like a zombie, but… she was different…so…familiar.
“G-Greetings mother…father.”
The three stood up immediately with mouths agape, yet no one would come over.
“What troubles you? Does my form shame or disgust you?”
Nergal just shook his head no but Mandy still didn’t move till Nergal pushed her forward. With that encouragement, Nergal and Mandy rushed over so Mandy could give Minnie the hug she deserved so long ago. Grim however, remained over by his seat, just staring at Minnie’s form.
“Is something wrong dad?” Junior said as he walked over.
“No. You brought her back to life boy. It may not be perfect but you did it so young. I’m proud of you son.”
“Thanks dad, and someday, I’m going to restore her completely.”
“Someday son, someday…”
“And on that day dad, I will be a great king. The best there will be and I’ll make you proud that I hold that title.”
Grim let out a chuckle and tussled Juniors hair. Then the two walked over to great the family member who was once lost but has returned.